CV THERAPEUTICS INC
S-3, 1997-11-25
COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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<PAGE>

  AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 25, 1997
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-_____
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549

                               ------------

                                 FORM S-3
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                  UNDER
                        THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               ------------

                          CV THERAPEUTICS, INC.
          (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           DELAWARE                                      43-1570294
(State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer Identification
 incorporation or organization)                            Number)

                               ------------

                             3172 PORTER DRIVE
                        PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
                              (415) 812-0585
      (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
          area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                               ------------

                       LOUIS G. LANGE, M.D., PH.D.
                  CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                             3172 PORTER DRIVE
                        PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
                              (415) 812-0585

    (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including 
                     area code, of agent for service)

                               ------------

                                COPIES TO:

                          LAURA A. BEREZIN, ESQ.
                            COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                           FIVE PALO ALTO SQUARE
                            3000 EL CAMINO REAL
                          PALO ALTO, CA 94306-2155
                              (415) 843-5000

                               ------------

       APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                               ------------

    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. / /

    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/

    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /

    If this Form is filed in a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement of the same offering.  / /

    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /

                               ------------

                     CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF         AMOUNT TO BE     PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING     PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE         AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED       REGISTERED         PRICE PER SHARE (1)            OFFERING PRICE (1)          REGISTRATION FEE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                      <C>                          <C>                          <C>
Common Stock, $0.001 par value    1,472,147                $10.75                       $15,825,580                  $4,796
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1)  Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) solely for the purpose of 
     computing the amount of the registration fee based on the average of the 
     high and low prices of the Company's Common Stock as reported on the 
     Nasdaq National Market System on November 21, 1997.

                               ------------

   THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR 
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT 
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION 
STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING 
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

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<PAGE>

PROSPECTUS

                           1,472,147 SHARES

                         CV THERAPEUTICS, INC.

                             ------------

                             COMMON STOCK

                             ------------

     This Prospectus relates to 1,472,147 shares of Common Stock (the 
"Shares"), with a par value of $0.001 (the "Common Stock") of CV 
Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company" or "CVT") which may be offered and sold by 
certain stockholders of the Company (the "Selling Securityholders").  Of such 
shares, 75,000 were issued by the Company pursuant to an Amendment to License 
Agreement by and between the Company and Syntex (U.S.A.), Inc., dated as of 
July 3, 1997 (the "License Agreement") and 1,397,147 were issued by the 
Company pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the 
Company and Biotech Target S.A., dated as of October 7, 1997 (the "Private 
Placement Agreement").

     The Shares may be offered by the Selling Securityholders from time to 
time in transactions on the Nasdaq National Market System, in privately 
negotiated transactions or a combination of such methods of sale, at fixed 
prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, 
at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.  
The Selling Securityholders may effect such transactions by selling the 
Shares to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers may receive 
compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the 
Selling Securityholders or the purchasers of the Shares for whom such  
broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal or both 
(which compensation to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of 
customary commissions).  See "Selling Securityholders" and "Plan of 
Distribution."

     The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the 
Shares by the Selling Securityholders hereof.  See "Plan of Distribution."

     The Selling Securityholders, directly or through agents, dealers or 
underwriters, may sell the Shares offered hereby from time to time on terms 
to be determined at the time of sale.  The Company's Common Stock is traded 
on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol CVTX.                   

                             ------------

       THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                 SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGES 5-12.

                             ------------

     THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
       COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
          OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
             ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY
                  REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                           CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

     No underwriting commissions or discounts will be paid by the Company in 
connection with this offering.  Estimated expenses payable by the Company in 
connection with this offering are $27,296.  The aggregate proceeds to the 
Selling Securityholders from the sale of the Shares will be the purchase 
price of the Shares sold less the aggregate agents' commissions and 
underwriters' discounts, if any, and other expenses of issuance and 
distribution not borne by the Company.  See "Plan of Distribution."

     The Selling Securityholders and any broker-dealers, agents or 
underwriters that participate with the Selling Securityholders in the 
distribution of the Shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the 
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and any 
commission received by them and any profit on the resale of the Shares 
purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts 
under the Act.  The Company has agreed to indemnify certain of the Selling 
Securityholders and certain other persons against certain liabilities, 
including liabilities under the Act.

        The date of this Prospectus is November ___, 1997.
<PAGE>

     No person is authorized in connection with any offering made hereby to 
give any information or to make any representation not contained or 
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and any information or 
representation not contained or incorporated herein must not be relied upon 
as having been authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does not constitute 
an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, by any person in any 
jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such offer or 
solicitation. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus at any time nor any 
sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, imply that the 
information herein is correct as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

                      AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company is subject to the informational reporting requirements of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in 
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, 
proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the 
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 
Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the 
Commission's following Regional Offices: Chicago Regional Office, Citicorp 
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; 
and New York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New 
York 10048.  Copies of such material can be obtained at prescribed rates from 
the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., 
Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549. The Commission maintains a Web site 
that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information 
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The 
address of such Web site is http://www.sec.gov.

     Additional information regarding the Company and the Shares offered 
hereby is contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 and the 
exhibits thereto filed with the Commission under the Act.  This Prospectus 
does not contain all of the information contained in such Registration 
Statement and the exhibits thereto. Statements contained in this Prospectus 
regarding the contents of any document or contract may be incomplete and, in 
each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or document 
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. For further information 
pertaining to the Company and the Shares, reference is made to the 
Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, which may be inspected 
without charge at, and copies thereof may be obtained at prescribed rates 
from, the office of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary 
Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549.

         INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission 
pursuant to the Exchange Act are by this reference incorporated in and made a 
part of this Prospectus:

(1)  The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 
     1996, filed on March 28, 1997, as amended on Form 10-K/A filed on April 
     25, 1997, including all matters incorporated by reference therein;

(2)  The Proxy Statement for the Company's 1997 Annual Meeting of 
     Stockholders, filed on May 15, 1997, including all matters incorporated 
     by reference therein;

(3)  The Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 
     31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997, including all matters 
     incorporated by reference therein; and

(4)  The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's 
     Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on October 30, 1996.

     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to 
the termination of the offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by 
reference herein and to be a part of this Prospectus from the date of filing 
of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or 
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified 
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement 
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or 
is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such 
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, 
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.


                                 2.
<PAGE>

     Copies of all documents which are incorporated herein by reference (not 
including the exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are 
specifically incorporated by reference into such documents or into this 
Prospectus) will be provided without charge to each person, including any 
beneficial owner to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon a written or oral 
request to CV Therapeutics, Inc., Attention:  Investor Relations, 3172 Porter 
Drive, Palo Alto, California, 94304, telephone number (415) 812-0585.

     The discussions in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by 
reference herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and 
uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from 
those discussed herein and in such incorporated documents.  Factors that 
could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited 
to, those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" herein, as well as those 
discussed in the documents incorporated herein by reference.

                             ------------


                                  3.
<PAGE>

                             THE COMPANY

     THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED 
INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS APPEARING ELSEWHERE HEREIN OR 
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

     CVT is a biopharmaceutical company focused exclusively on the 
application of molecular cardiology to the discovery, development and 
commercialization of novel, small molecule drugs for the treatment of chronic 
cardiovascular diseases.

     CVT was incorporated in Delaware in December 1990.  The Company's 
executive offices are located at 3172 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, California 
94304, and its telephone number is (415) 812-0585.

                            THE OFFERING

Shares offered ............  Up to 1,472,147 Shares, all of which are 
                             being offered by the Selling Securityholders.(1)

Use of Proceeds ...........  The Company will not receive any of the proceeds 
                             from the sale of the Shares by the Selling 
                             Securityholders.

Nasdaq Symbol .............  CVTX.

- -------------

(1)  The 1,472,147 shares of Common Stock were issued by the Company pursuant 
     to the License Agreement and the Private Placement Agreement.

                           USE OF PROCEEDS

     The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the 
Shares by the Selling Securityholders.

                           DIVIDEND POLICY

     The Company has never paid cash dividends.  The Company's Board of 
Directors currently intends to retain any earnings for use in the Company's 
business and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable 
future.

This Prospectus includes trademarks and trade names of the Company and 
certain other companies.


                                  4.
<PAGE>

                          RISK FACTORS

     AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A 
HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER, IN 
ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE FOLLOWING 
RISK FACTORS IN EVALUATING THE COMPANY AND THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY.

UNCERTAINTIES RELATED TO EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT

     The Company is at an early stage of development and must be evaluated in 
light of the uncertainties and complications present in an early stage 
biopharmaceutical company.  In addition, all of the Company's products are at 
an early stage of development. Since the Company's inception in 1990, 
substantially all of the Company's resources have been dedicated to research 
and development, and the Company has not generated any product revenue. 
Because all of the Company's potential products are in research, preclinical 
or clinical development, product revenues will not be realized for at least 
several years, if at all. Drug discovery methods based upon molecular 
cardiology are relatively new, and there can be no assurance that the Company 
will be able to employ these methods of drug discovery successfully or that 
these methods will lead to the development of commercially viable 
pharmaceutical products. Certain of the Company's compounds within the 
Company's cell cycle and adenosine A1 receptor programs are in the early 
stages of research and development, and the Company cannot predict when, if 
ever, it will commence clinical trials for such new compounds. There can be 
no assurance that any of the Company's product development efforts will be 
successfully completed, that any of the Company's products will be proven to 
be safe and effective, that regulatory approvals will be obtained at all or 
be as broad as sought, that the Company's products will be capable of being 
produced in commercial quantities or that any products, if introduced, will 
achieve market acceptance.

UNCERTAINTIES RELATED TO CLINICAL TRIALS

     The Company's potential products are subject to the risks of failure 
inherent in the development of pharmaceutical products and will require 
additional development, preclinical studies, clinical trials and regulatory 
approval prior to commercialization. The results from preclinical studies and 
early clinical trials may not be predictive of results obtained in later 
clinical trials, and there can be no assurance that clinical trials conducted 
by the Company or its collaborators will demonstrate sufficient safety and 
efficacy to obtain the requisite approvals or that marketable products will 
result. For example, in November 1995, based on unfavorable efficacy data 
from a Phase II trial, the Company terminated its development program for the 
CVT-1 product for treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.

     The Company currently has only two products in clinical development, 
ranolazine and CVT-124. The rate of completion of the Company's clinical 
trials may be delayed by many factors, including slower than anticipated 
patient enrollment, difficulty in finding a sufficient number of patients 
fitting the appropriate trial profile or difficulty in obtaining sufficient 
supplies of clinical trial materials or adverse events occurring during the 
clinical trials. Completion of testing, studies and trials may take several 
years, and the length of time varies substantially with the type, complexity, 
novelty and intended use of the product. There can be no assurance that the 
Company's drug development efforts will progress as expected or that such 
efforts will lead to the further development and regulatory approval of any 
product. In addition, data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities 
are susceptible to varying interpretations, which could delay, limit or 
prevent regulatory approval. Delays or rejections may be encountered based 
upon many factors, including changes in regulatory policy during the period 
of product development. No assurance can be given that any of the Company's 
development programs will be successfully completed, that any investigational 
new drug ("IND") applications will become effective or that additional 
clinical trials will be allowed by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") 
or other regulatory authorities or that clinical trials will commence as 
planned. As a result of FDA reviews or complications that may arise in any 
phase of the clinical trial program, there can be no assurance that the 
proposed schedules for IND and clinical protocol submissions to the FDA, 


                                  5.
<PAGE>

initiations of studies and completions of clinical trials can be maintained. 
Any delays in the Company's clinical trials would have a material adverse 
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of 
operations.

DEPENDENCE ON COLLABORATIVE AND LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS

     The Company's strategy for the research, development and 
commercialization of its product candidates has required, and will continue 
to require, the Company to enter into various arrangements with corporate and 
academic collaborators, licensors, licensees and others, and the Company will 
therefore be dependent upon the success of these parties in performing their 
responsibilities. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to 
enter into additional collaborative arrangements or license agreements on 
acceptable terms, or at all, or that any or all of the contemplated benefits 
from such collaborative arrangements or license agreements will be realized. 
Failure to obtain and maintain such arrangements or agreements would result 
in delays in the development of the Company's proposed products, the 
inability to proceed with the development, manufacture or sale of products, 
or the loss of third party licenses or could require the Company to fund 
development of a particular product candidate internally. If the Company were 
required to fund development internally, its future capital requirements 
would increase substantially. There can be no assurance that the Company 
could obtain additional funds to meet such increased capital requirements on 
acceptable terms, or at all.

     Under the Company's collaborative arrangement with Biogen, Inc. and a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of Biogen, Inc. (collectively, "Biogen"), Biogen is 
responsible for pursuing all aspects of commercialization of CVT-124, 
including but not limited to manufacturing clinical quantities of CVT-124, 
conducting additional clinical trials, pursuing regulatory approvals, 
scaling-up manufacturing processes and establishing marketing and sales 
capabilities. The Company's relationship with Biogen may be terminated by 
Biogen upon notice ranging from 60 to 90 days. Any such termination would 
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition 
and results of operations. In addition, certain of the collaborative 
arrangements that the Company may enter into in the future may place 
responsibility on the collaborative partner for preclinical testing and 
clinical trials, for manufacturing and for preparation and submission of 
applications for regulatory approval of potential pharmaceutical products. 
The Company cannot control the amount and timing of resources which its 
collaborative partners devote to the Company's programs or potential 
products. Should a collaborative partner fail to develop or commercialize 
successfully any product candidate to which it has rights, the Company's 
business financial condition and results of operations may be materially and 
adversely affected. There can be no assurance that collaborators will not 
pursue other technologies or product candidates either on their own or in 
collaboration with others.

     Collaborative arrangements may also require the Company to expend funds 
and to meet certain milestones, and there can be no assurance that the 
Company will be successful in doing so. The Company's agreement with the 
University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. in the area of adenosine 
receptors requires the Company to reach certain preclinical and clinical 
milestones within defined time periods to maintain exclusive rights under the 
license. The Company's agreement with Syntex (U.S.A.), Inc. ("Syntex") for 
ranolazine requires it to make a milestone payment to Syntex upon FDA 
approval of an NDA for ranolazine. The Company's agreement with Biogen 
requires the Company to meet certain development milestones in order to 
receive or be entitled to retain certain payments. Failure of the Company to 
meet its obligations under its collaborative arrangements could result in a 
termination of those arrangements and the loss of rights to the compounds 
under development and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's 
business, financial condition and results of operations.

     There can be no assurance that disputes will not arise in the future 
with respect to the ownership of rights to any technology developed with or 
by third parties. These and other possible disagreements between 
collaborators and the Company could lead to delays in the collaborative 
research, development or commercialization of certain product candidates or 
could require or result in litigation or arbitration, which would be time 
consuming and expensive, and would have a material adverse effect on the 
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.


                                  6.
<PAGE>

HISTORY OF LOSSES AND EXPECTATION OF FUTURE LOSSES; UNCERTAINTY OF FUTURE 
PROFITABILITY; ACCUMULATED DEFICIT

     Since its inception, the Company has been engaged in research and 
development activities and has generated no product revenues. As of September 
30, 1997, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $53.4 
million. The process of developing the Company's products will require 
significant additional research and development, preclinical testing and 
clinical trials, as well as regulatory approvals. These activities, together 
with the Company's general and administrative expenses, are expected to 
result in operating losses for the foreseeable future. The Company will not 
receive product revenues unless and until it or its collaborative partners 
complete clinical trials and receive regulatory approval for commercial sale 
with respect to one or more products and successfully commercialize such 
products. There can be no assurance that the Company will generate revenues 
or achieve and sustain profitability in the future.

NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUTURE CAPITAL; UNCERTAINTY OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING

     The Company will require substantial additional funding in order to 
complete its research and development activities and commercialize any 
potential products. The Company has financed its operations primarily through 
the sale of equity securities, payments from its collaborators, equipment and 
leasehold improvement financing and other debt financing. The Company has 
generated no product revenue, and none is expected for at least several 
years. The Company anticipates that its existing resources and projected 
interest income will enable the Company to maintain its current and planned 
operations through 1999. However, there can be no assurance that the Company 
will not require additional funding prior to such time. The Company's future 
capital requirements will depend on many factors, including scientific 
progress in its research and development programs, the size and complexity of 
such programs, the timing, scope and results of preclinical studies and 
clinical trials conducted by the Company or its collaborators, the ability of 
the Company to establish and maintain corporate partnerships, the time and 
costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals, the costs involved in 
filing, prosecuting and enforcing patent claims, competing technological and 
market developments, the cost of manufacturing or obtaining preclinical and 
clinical material and other factors not within the Company's control. There 
can be no assurance that such additional financing to meet the Company's 
capital requirements will be available on acceptable terms or at all. 
Insufficient funds may require the Company to delay, scale back or eliminate 
some or all of its research or development programs or to lose rights under 
existing licenses or to relinquish greater or all rights to product 
candidates at an earlier stage of development or on less favorable terms than 
the Company would otherwise seek or may adversely affect the Company's 
ability to operate as a going concern. If additional funds are raised by 
issuing equity securities, substantial dilution to existing stockholders may 
result.

UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE

     The Company's future profitability is dependent on commercial acceptance 
of its potential products. The Company believes that market acceptance of its 
potential products will depend on the Company's or its collaborators' ability 
to provide acceptable evidence of the safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness 
of its products, as well as the effectiveness of its marketing strategy, 
which may include its own marketing efforts as well as those of its 
collaborators. In addition, third party payors can indirectly affect the 
demand for the Company's potential products by regulating the maximum amount 
of reimbursement that will be provided. There can be no assurance that 
potential products developed by the Company or its collaborators will achieve 
market acceptance among patients, physicians or third party payors, even if 
necessary regulatory and reimbursement approvals are obtained. Failure to 
achieve market acceptance would have a material adverse effect on the 
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

INTENSE COMPETITION; RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE

     The pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries are subject to 
intense competition and significant, rapid technological change. If 
regulatory approvals are received, certain of the Company's potential 
products will 


                                  7.
<PAGE>

compete with well established, FDA approved proprietary and generic therapies 
that have generated substantial sales over a number of years and which are 
reimbursed from government health administration authorities and private 
health insurers. In addition, CVT is aware of companies which are developing 
products that will compete for the same disease markets as its potential 
products. Many of the Company's competitors and potential competitors have 
substantially greater product development capabilities and financial, 
scientific, marketing and sales resources than the Company. Other companies 
may succeed in developing products earlier than the Company, obtaining 
approvals for such products from the FDA more rapidly than the Company and 
its corporate partners, or developing products that are safer or more 
effective than those under development or proposed to be developed by the 
Company and its corporate partners. There can be no assurance that research 
and development by others will not render the Company's technology or its 
potential products obsolete or non-competitive. In addition, there can be no 
assurance that the Company's competitors will not develop more effective or 
more affordable products or achieve patent protection, regulatory approval or 
product commercialization earlier than the Company.

UNCERTAINTY OF PATENT POSITION AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

     The Company's success will depend to a significant degree on its ability 
to obtain patents and licenses to patent rights, to maintain trade secrets 
and to operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of others, both 
in the United States and other countries. The Company holds three issued U.S. 
patents and has filed a number of United States and foreign patent 
applications covering certain of its compounds. In addition, in connection 
with its corporate and academic collaborations, the Company has received 
licenses to a number of issued patents and patent applications for ranolazine 
and CVT 124. The Company intends to continue to file applications as 
appropriate for patents covering both its potential products and processes. 
There can be no assurance that patents will issue from any of these 
applications, that any patent will issue on technology arising from 
additional research or that patents that may issue from such applications 
will be sufficient to protect the Company's technology. In particular, in 
certain cases the Company is dependent upon third parties for the prosecution 
of patents and patent applications. Failure of these third parties to 
effectively prosecute such patents could have a material adverse effect on 
the Company's ability to prevent competitors from developing similar 
compounds. Patent applications in the United States are maintained in secrecy 
until a patent issues, and the Company cannot be certain that others have not 
filed patent applications for technology covered by the Company's pending 
applications or that the Company was the first to invent the technology that 
is the subject of such patent applications. Competitors may have filed 
applications for, or may have received patents and may obtain additional 
patents and proprietary rights relating to, compounds, products or processes 
that block or compete with those of the Company. If any of its competitors 
have filed patent applications in the United States that claim technology 
also invented by the Company, the Company may have to participate in 
interference proceedings declared by the Patent and Trademark Office in order 
to determine priority of invention and, thus, the right to a patent for the 
technology in the United States, all of which could result in substantial 
cost to the Company. In addition, litigation, which would result in 
substantial cost to the Company, may be necessary to enforce any patents 
issued to the Company or to determine the scope and validity of the 
proprietary rights of third parties. There can be no assurance that any 
patents issued to the Company or to licensors from whom the Company has 
licensed rights will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or that 
the rights granted thereunder will provide proprietary protection or 
commercial advantage to the Company.

     The commercial success of the Company will depend in part on the Company 
not infringing patents issued to competitors and not breaching the licenses 
that might cover technology used in the Company's potential products. Failure 
by the Company to obtain a license to any technology required to 
commercialize its potential products could have a material adverse effect on 
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

     The Company also relies on trade secrets to develop and maintain its 
competitive position. Although the Company protects its proprietary 
technology in part by confidentiality agreements with its employees, 
consultants, collaborators, advisors and corporate partners, there can be no 
assurance that these agreements will not be breached, that the Company will 
have adequate remedies for any breach or that the Company's trade secrets 
will not otherwise become known or be discovered independently by its 
competitors.


                                  8.
<PAGE>

DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL; NEED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN KEY EMPLOYEES AND
CONSULTANTS

     The Company is highly dependent on certain members of its management and 
scientific staff. In addition, the Company relies on consultants and 
advisors. The loss of any of these persons could have a material adverse 
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of 
operations. In order to pursue its research and product development plans, 
the Company will be required to attract and retain additional qualified 
scientific and other personnel. There can be no assurance that the Company 
will be successful in attracting and retaining these skilled persons who 
generally are in high demand by pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical 
companies and by universities and other research institutions. The failure to 
successfully attract and retain qualified personnel, consultants and advisors 
may impede the achievement of development objectives and have a material 
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of 
operations. In addition, a substantial portion of the stock options currently 
held by many of the Company's key employees are vested or may be fully vested 
over the next several years before the Company achieves significant revenues 
or profitability.  The Company intends to grant additional options and 
provide other forms of incentive compensation to attract and retain such key 
personnel.

LIMITED MANUFACTURING, MARKETING AND SALES EXPERIENCE

     The Company does not currently operate manufacturing facilities for 
clinical or commercial production of its proposed products. The Company has 
no experience in manufacturing, and currently lacks the resources or 
capability to manufacture, any of its potential products on a clinical or 
commercial scale. The Company is currently, and will continue to be, 
dependent on corporate partners, licensees or other third parties for the 
manufacturing of clinical and commercial scale quantities of its products. 
For example, Biogen is responsible for the manufacture of CVT-124 to supply 
clinical trials. In addition, the Company acquired from Syntex a sufficient 
quantity of a sustained release formulation of ranolazine ("ranolazine SR") 
tablets to supply the first Phase III trial. The Company has an agreement 
with a third party manufacturer for clinical scale production of ranolazine's 
active pharmaceutical ingredient sufficient to support the remainder of the 
Phase III clinical program, registration and commercialization. The Company 
is negotiating with third party manufacturers for clinical scale production 
of ranolazine SR tablets sufficient to support the remainder of the Phase III 
clinical program, registration and commercialization. There can be no 
assurance that the Company will be able to maintain existing agreements for 
manufacturing of clinical quantities of potential products, that it will be 
able to establish or maintain agreements with other third parties or that 
these parties will be able to develop adequate manufacturing capabilities. In 
addition, prior to approval of an NDA for ranolazine, the Company will be 
required to demonstrate to the FDA's satisfaction, the bioequivalence of the 
multiple sources of ranolazine used in the Company's clinical trials.

     The Company currently has no sales, marketing or distribution 
capability. The Company may promote its products in collaboration with 
marketing partners or rely on relationships with one or more companies with 
established distribution systems and direct sales forces. In particular, 
Biogen is responsible for establishing marketing and sales activities for 
CVT-124. Alternatively, in the United States the Company may elect to 
establish its own specialized sales force and marketing organization to 
market its products to cardiologists. In the event that the Company is unable 
to reach and maintain agreement with one or more pharmaceutical companies or 
collaborative partners to market its products, it may be required to market 
its products directly and to develop a marketing and sales force with 
technical expertise and with supporting distribution capability. There can be 
no assurance that the Company will be able to establish in-house sales and 
distribution capabilities or relationships with third parties, or that it 
will be successful in commercializing any of its potential products. To the 
extent that the Company enters into co-promotion or other licensing 
arrangements, any revenues received by the Company will depend upon the 
efforts of third parties, and there can be no assurance that such efforts 
will be successful.

SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT REGULATION; NO ASSURANCE OF REGULATORY APPROVAL

     The research, testing, manufacture and marketing of drug products is 
subject to extensive regulation by numerous regulatory authorities in the 
United States and other countries. Failure to comply with FDA or other 


                                  9.
<PAGE>

applicable regulatory requirements may subject a company to administrative or 
judicially imposed sanctions such as warning letters, civil penalties, 
criminal prosecution, injunctions, product seizure or detention, product 
recalls, total or partial suspension of production, and FDA refusal to 
approve pending new drug applications ("NDAs") or supplements to approved 
NDAs. The Company has not received regulatory approval in the United States 
or any foreign jurisdiction for the commercial sale of any of its products. 
The process of obtaining FDA and other required regulatory approvals, 
including foreign approvals, often takes many years and can vary 
substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the products 
involved. Furthermore, such approval process is extremely expensive and 
uncertain. There can be no assurance that the Company's potential products 
will be approved for marketing by the FDA. Even if regulatory approval of a 
product is granted, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able 
to obtain the labeling claims necessary or desirable for the promotion of 
those products. FDA requirements prohibit the marketing or promotion of a 
drug for unapproved indications. Furthermore, regulatory marketing approval 
may entail ongoing requirements for postmarketing studies. If regulatory 
approval is obtained, the Company will be subject to ongoing FDA obligations 
and continued regulatory review. In particular, the Company or its third 
party manufacturer will be required to adhere to regulations setting forth 
current Good Manufacturing Practices, which require that the Company 
manufacture its products and maintain its records in a prescribed manner with 
respect to manufacturing, testing and quality control activities. Further, 
the Company or its third party manufacturer must pass a preapproval 
inspection of its manufacturing facilities by the FDA before obtaining 
marketing approval. Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements 
may result in penalties such as restrictions on a product's marketing or 
withdrawal of the product from the market. In addition, identification of 
certain side effects after a drug is on the market or the occurrence of 
manufacturing problems could cause subsequent withdrawal of approval, 
reformulation of the drug, additional preclinical testing or clinical trials 
and changes in labeling of the product.

     Prior to the submission of an NDA, drugs developed by the Company must 
undergo rigorous preclinical and clinical testing, which may take several 
years and the expenditure of substantial resources. Before commencing 
clinical trials in humans, the Company must submit to the FDA and receive 
clearance of an IND. There can be no assurance that submission of an IND for 
future clinical testing of any products under development or other future 
products of the Company would result in FDA permission to commence clinical 
trials or that the Company will be able to obtain the necessary approvals for 
future clinical testing in any foreign jurisdiction. Success in preclinical 
studies or early stage clinical trials does not assure success in later stage 
clinical trials. Data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities are 
susceptible to varying interpretations which could delay, limit or prevent 
regulatory approval. Further, there can be no assurance that if such testing 
of products under development is completed, any such drug compounds will be 
accepted for formal review by the FDA or any foreign regulatory body, or 
approved by the FDA for marketing in the United States or by any such foreign 
regulatory bodies for marketing in foreign jurisdictions. Future federal, 
state, local or foreign legislation or administrative acts could also prevent 
or delay regulatory approval of the Company's products.

     On November 11, 1997, Congress passed the Food and Drug Administration 
Modernization Act of 1997. This new legislation is intended to speed the 
approval of new drugs and medical devices by streamlining FDA's review 
procedures to ensure timely review of applications.

UNCERTAINTY OF PRODUCT PRICING AND REIMBURSEMENT

     The ability of the Company and its existing and potential corporate 
partners to market and sell its potential products successfully will depend 
in part on the extent to which reimbursement for the cost of such potential 
products and related treatments will be available from government health 
administration authorities, private health insurers and other organizations. 
Third party payors are increasingly challenging the price of medical products 
and services. Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status 
of newly approved health care products. In addition, for sales of the 
Company's products in Europe, the Company will be required to seek 
reimbursement on a country-by-country basis. If the Company or any existing 
or potential corporate partners succeed in bringing any products to market, 
there can be no assurance that these products will be considered cost 
effective, that 


                                  10.
<PAGE>

reimbursement will be available, or if available, that the payors' 
reimbursement policies will not adversely affect the Company's or any such 
existing or potential corporate partner's ability to sell such products on a 
profitable basis.

PRODUCT LIABILITY EXPOSURE; AVAILABILITY OF INSURANCE

     The manufacture and sale of biopharmaceutical products involve an 
inherent risk of product liability claims and associated adverse publicity. 
The Company currently has only limited product liability insurance for 
clinical trials and no commercial product liability insurance. There can be 
no assurance that it will be able to maintain existing or obtain additional 
product liability insurance on acceptable terms or with adequate coverage 
against potential liabilities. Such insurance is expensive, difficult to 
obtain and may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. An inability 
to obtain sufficient insurance coverage on reasonable terms or to otherwise 
protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit 
the commercialization of the Company's potential products. A successful 
product liability claim brought against the Company in excess of its 
insurance coverage, if any, could have a material adverse effect on the 
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

HAZARDOUS AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

     The Company's research and development processes involve the controlled 
use of hazardous materials, chemicals and radioactive materials, and produce 
waste products. The Company is subject to federal, state and local laws and 
regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of 
such materials and waste products. Although the Company believes that its 
safety procedures for handling and disposing of such materials comply with 
the standards prescribed by such laws and regulations, the risk of 
contamination or injury from these materials cannot be eliminated completely. 
In such event, the Company could be held liable for any damages that result 
and any such liability could exceed the resources of the Company. Although 
the Company believes that it is in compliance in all material respects with 
applicable environmental laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that 
it will not be required to incur significant costs to comply with 
environmental laws and regulations in the future, or that the Company's 
business, financial condition or results of operations will not be materially 
adversely affected by current or future environmental laws or regulations.

VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE

     The market price of the shares of Common Stock, like that of the common 
stock of many other biopharmaceutical companies, is likely to continue to be 
highly volatile. Factors such as the Company's operating results, 
developments in the Company's relationships with corporate partners, 
developments affecting the Company's corporate partners, results of 
preclinical studies and clinical trials by the Company, its corporate 
partners or its competitors, negative regulatory action or regulatory 
approval with respect to the Company or its competitors, announcements of new 
products by the Company or its competitors, developments related to patent or 
other proprietary rights by the Company or its competitors, changes in the 
position of securities analysts with respect to the Common Stock, and market 
conditions for biopharmaceutical or biotechnology stocks in general, may 
cause the market price of the Common Stock to fluctuate, perhaps 
substantially. In addition, in recent years the stock market in general, and 
the shares of biopharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare companies in 
particular, have experienced extreme price fluctuations. These broad market 
and industry fluctuations may materially adversely affect the market price of 
the Common Stock. In some future quarter the Company's operating results may 
be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors, and, as a 
result, the price of the Common Stock would likely be materially adversely 
affected.

CONTROL BY EXISTING STOCKHOLDERS; ANTI TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN CHARTER 
PROVISIONS AND DELAWARE LAW

     As of October 31, 1997, the Company's officers, directors and principal 
stockholders beneficially owned approximately 41.93% of the outstanding 
shares of the Common Stock. As a result, such persons may have the 


                                  11.
<PAGE>

ability to effectively control the Company and direct its affairs and 
business. Such concentration of ownership may also have the effect of 
delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company. In 
addition, the Company's Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock and to determine the price, rights, 
preferences and privileges of those shares without any further vote or action 
by the stockholders. The rights of the holders of Common Stock will be 
subject to, and may be materially adversely affected by, the rights of the 
holders of any Preferred Stock that may be issued in the future. The issuance 
of Preferred Stock could have the effect of making it more difficult for a 
third party to acquire a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the 
Company. Furthermore, certain provisions of the Company's Amended and 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation may have the effect of delaying or 
preventing changes in control or management of the Company, which could 
adversely affect the market price of the Company's Common Stock. In addition, 
the Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware 
General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law.


                                  12.
<PAGE>

                        SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

     The following table sets forth the names of the Selling Securityholders, 
the number of shares of Common Stock owned by the Selling Securityholders 
prior to this offering, the number of shares of Common Stock being offered 
for the account of the Selling Securityholders and the number of shares of 
Common Stock to be owned by the Selling Securityholders after completion of 
this offering. This information is based upon information provided by the 
Selling Securityholders.  Because the Selling Securityholders may offer all, 
some or none of their Common Stock being offered, no definitive estimate as 
to the number of Shares thereof that will be held by the Selling 
Securityholders after such offering can be provided.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    SHARES BENEFICIALLY
                                   SHARES BENEFICIALLY          SHARES BEING            OWNED AFTER 
SELLING SECURITYHOLDER          OWNED PRIOR TO OFFERING(1)         OFFERED             OFFERING(1)(2)
- ----------------------          --------------------------         -------             --------------
                                  NUMBER         PERCENT                            NUMBER        PERCENT
                                  ------         -------                            ------        -------
<S>                              <C>              <C>             <C>               <C>           <C>
Syntex (U.S.A.), Inc.               75,000          *                75,000           --             --

Biotech Target S.A.              1,397,147        16.59%          1,397,147           --             --
</TABLE>
_______________

* Less than 1%

(1)  Based on 8,420,074 shares outstanding as of October 31, 1997.  The 
     Selling Securityholders named in the table have sole voting and 
     investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned.

(2)  Assumes the sale of all Shares offered hereby.  See "Plan of 
     Distribution."


                                  13.
<PAGE>

                        PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The Shares may be offered by the Selling Securityholders from time to 
time in transactions on the Nasdaq National Market System, in privately 
negotiated transactions or a combination of such methods of sale, at fixed 
prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, 
at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.  
The Selling Securityholders may effect such transactions by selling the 
Shares directly or by or through agents or broker-dealers who may receive 
compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the 
Selling Securityholders or the purchasers of the Shares for whom such 
broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal or both 
(which compensation to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of 
customary commissions).

     The Selling Securityholders and any underwriters, dealers or agents that 
participate in the distribution of the Shares may be deemed to be 
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts, 
commissions or concessions received by them and any provided pursuant to the 
sale of the Shares by them might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and 
commissions under the Securities Act.   In order to comply with the 
securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the Shares will be sold in 
such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.  
In addition, in certain states the Shares may not be sold unless the Shares 
have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an 
exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and 
is complied with.

     The Company is registering the Shares offered by the Selling 
Securityholders hereunder pursuant to contractual registration rights 
contained in the License Agreement and the Private Placement Agreement.  The 
Company will pay substantially all of the expenses incident to the offering 
and sale of the Shares to the public, other than commissions, concessions and 
discounts of underwriters, dealers or agents.  Such expenses are estimated to 
be $27,296. The Private Placement Agreement provides for 
cross-indemnification of one of the Selling Securityholders and the Company 
to the extent permitted by law, for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and 
expenses arising, under certain circumstances, out of any registration of 
1,397,147 of the Shares.

                         LEGAL MATTERS

     The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for 
the Company by Cooley Godward LLP ("Cooley"), Palo Alto, California.  As of 
the date of this Prospectus, Cooley owns a warrant to purchase 2,500 units at 
a price of $.50 per unit with each unit consisting of one (1) share of Common 
Stock and one warrant to purchase one-half (1/2) share of Common Stock at an 
exercise price of $20.00 per share.  GC&H Investments, a general partnership 
formed by the partners of Cooley for investment purposes, owns 10,675 shares 
of the Company's Common Stock and a warrant to purchase 875 shares of the 
Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.00 per share.  Alan C. 
Mendelson and Deborah A. Marshall, partners at Cooley, are the Secretary and 
Assistant Secretary of the Company, respectively.

                            EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements of CV Therapeutics, Inc. appearing 
in the CV Therapeutics, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 
December 31, 1996, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent 
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon and incorporated by reference. 
Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference 
in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts 
in accounting and auditing.

                                  14.
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY 
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS 
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED 
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY.  THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT 
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THOSE TO WHICH IT RELATES OR 
AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, TO ANY PERSON IN ANY 
JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.  NEITHER THE 
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY 
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN 
IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.

                              -------------

                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                          Page
                                                                          ----
Available Information .................................................     2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference .......................     2
The Company ...........................................................     4
The Offering ..........................................................     4
Use of Proceeds .......................................................     4
Dividend Policy .......................................................     4
Risk Factors ..........................................................     5
Selling Securityholders ...............................................    12
Plan of Distribution  .................................................    13
Legal Matters .........................................................    13
Experts ...............................................................    13


                             1,472,147 SHARES



                          CV THERAPEUTICS, INC. 


                              COMMON STOCK


                               ----------
                               PROSPECTUS
                               ----------



                           NOVEMBER ___, 1997

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                                 PART II
                 INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

     The following table sets forth the expenses payable by the Company in 
connection with the sale, issuance and distribution of the securities being 
registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions.  All amounts 
are estimates except the SEC registration fee.  None of these expenses will 
be paid by the Selling Securityholders.

    SEC Registration Fee  ...................  $4,796
    Printing and Engraving Expenses .........   2,500
    Legal Fees and Expenses .................  15,000
    Accounting Fees and Expenses ............   5,000

    Total ................................... $27,296


ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, CVT has broad 
powers to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities they may 
incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Act.  CVT's 
Restated Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its directors and 
executive officers and may indemnify other officers to the fullest extent not 
prohibited by Delaware General Corporation Law.  The Restated Bylaws also 
require CVT to advance litigation expenses incurred by its directors and 
executive officers in case of stockholder derivative actions or other 
actions, upon receipt of an undertaking by the indemnified party to repay 
such advances if it is ultimately determined that the indemnified party is 
not entitled to indemnification.

     In addition, CVT's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation 
provides that its directors shall not be liable for monetary damages for 
breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care to CVT and its stockholders.  
This provision in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation does 
not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable 
remedies such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain 
available under Delaware law.  In addition, each director will continue to be 
subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the 
Company, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional 
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, for any transaction from which the 
director derived an improper personal benefit and under Section 174 of the 
Delaware General Corporation Law.  The provision also does not affect a 
director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal 
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.

     The Company has entered into indemnity agreements with each of its 
directors and executive officers which provide indemnification under certain 
circumstances for acts and omissions which may not be covered by any 
directors' and officers' liability insurance.

     CVT maintains an insurance policy covering the officers and directors of 
the Company with respect to certain liabilities arising under the Act or 
otherwise.


                                  II-1
<PAGE>

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

EXHIBIT
NUMBER    DESCRIPTION

4.1       Form of Specimen Certificate for Company's Common Stock.(1)
5.1       Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
10.44     Amendment to License Agreement by and between CV Therapeutics,
          Inc. and Syntex (U.S.A.), Inc., dated as of July 3, 1997.(2)
10.45     Common Stock Purchase Agreement by and between CV Therapeutics,
          Inc. and Biotech Target S.A., dated as of October 7, 1997.(3)
23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.2      Consent of Cooley Godward LLP.  Reference is made to Exhibit 5.1.
24.1      Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-3.

- ------------
(1)  Filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-
     12675), as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)  Filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
     quarter ended June 30, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3)  Filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
     quarter ended September 30, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
     post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
     material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
     previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
     to such information in the registration statement;

(2)  That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
     each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
     registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
     offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
     bona fide offering thereof; and

(3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
     the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
     the offering.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of 
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the 
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an 
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the 
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement 
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such 
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering 
thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities 
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the 
registrant pursuant to provisions described in Item 15, or otherwise, the 
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as 
expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the 
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than 
the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, 
officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of 
any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or 
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the 
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been 
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate 
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against 
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the 
final adjudication of such issue.



                                  II-2
<PAGE>
                               SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant 
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the 
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration 
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly 
authorized, in the City of Palo Alto, State of California, on November 25, 
1997.

                                        CV THERAPEUTICS, INC.


                                        By  /s/LOUIS G. LANGE, M.D., PH.D.
                                           -----------------------------------
                                                  Louis G. Lange, M.D.,Ph.D.
                                                   Chairman of the Board &
                                                   Chief Executive Officer

                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature 
appears below constitutes and appoints Louis G. Lange, M.D., Ph.D. and 
Kathleen A. Stafford, and each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful 
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and 
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in 
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including 
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the 
same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents, in connection 
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said 
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to 
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be 
done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or 
she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that 
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her 
substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue 
hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration 
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capabilities 
and on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       SIGNATURE                            TITLE                         DATE
       ---------                            -----                         ----
<S>                                  <C>                            <C>
  /s/LOUIS G. LANGE, M.D., PH.D.     Chairman of the Board &        November 25, 1997
- ----------------------------------   Chief Executive Officer
   Louis G. Lange, M.D., Ph.D.       (Principal Executive Officer)
                  
     /s/KATHLEEN A. STAFFORD         Chief Financial Officer        November 25, 1997
- ----------------------------------   (Principal Financial and
      Kathleen A. Stafford           Accounting Officer)

      /s/SAMUEL D. COLELLA           Director                       November 25, 1997
- ----------------------------------   
        Samuel D. Colella

      /s/THOMAS L. GUTSHALL          Director                       November 25, 1997
- ----------------------------------   
       Thomas L. Gutshall

/s/BARBARA J. MCNEIL, M.D., Ph.D.    Director                       November 25, 1997
- ----------------------------------   
  Barbara J. McNeil, M.D., Ph.D.                          

    /s/J. LEIGHTON READ, M.D.        Director                       November 25, 1997
- ----------------------------------   
     J. Leighton Read, M.D.                                  

 /s/COSTA G. SEVASTOPOULOS, PH.D.    Director                       November 25, 1997
- ----------------------------------   
  Costa G. Sevastopoulos, Ph.D.

        /s/ISAAC STEIN
- ----------------------------------   Director                       November 25, 1997
           Isaac Stein
</TABLE>

                                  II-3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       SIGNATURE                            TITLE                         DATE
       ---------                            -----                         ----
<S>                                  <C>                            <C>
      /s/DAVID P. HOLVECK            Director                       November 25, 1997
- ----------------------------------   
        David P. Holveck
</TABLE>


                                  II-4
<PAGE>
                            INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT
NUMBER    DESCRIPTION

4.1       Form of Specimen Certificate for Company's Common Stock.(1)
5.1       Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
10.44     Amendment to License Agreement by and between CV Therapeutics,
          Inc. and Syntex (U.S.A.), Inc., dated as of July 3, 1997.(2)
10.45     Common Stock Purchase Agreement by and between CV Therapeutics,
          Inc. and Biotech Target S.A., dated as of October 7, 1997.(3)
23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.2      Consent of Cooley Godward LLP.  Reference is made to Exhibit 5.1.
24.1      Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-3.

- --------------
(1)  Filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 
     333-12675), as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)  Filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal 
     quarter ended June 30, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3)  Filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal 
     quarter ended September 30, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.


<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT 5.1
                                       
                              COOLEY GODWARD LLP


November 24, 1997


CV Therapeutics, Inc.
3172 Porter Drive
Palo Alto, CA  94304

RE:  CV THERAPEUTICS, INC. FORM S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You have requested our opinion with respect to certain matters in connection 
with the filing by CV Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") of a Registration 
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission covering the offering of 1,472,147 shares of the 
Company's Common Stock, with a par value of $0.001 (the "Shares") to be sold 
by certain stockholders as described in the Registration Statement.  Of such 
Shares, 75,000 were issued by the Company pursuant to an Amendment to License 
Agreement by and between the Company and Syntex (U.S.A.), Inc., dated as of 
July 3, 1997 and 1,397,147 were issued by the Company pursuant to a Common 
Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and Biotech Target S.A., 
dated as of October 7, 1997.  Defined terms used herein shall have the 
meanings attributed to such terms in the Registration Statement unless 
otherwise stated herein.

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the 
Registration Statement and related Prospectus, the Company's Amended and 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Restated Bylaws, and the 
originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such documents, records, 
certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are 
necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.  
We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted 
to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to 
us as copies thereof, and the due execution and delivery of all documents 
where due execution and delivery are a prerequisite to the effectiveness 
thereof.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion 
that the Shares, are validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
<PAGE>

CV Therapeutics, Inc.
November 24, 1997
Page 2


We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in 
the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement and to the filing of 
this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

Cooley Godward LLP


By:    /s/Alan C. Mendelson
   ----------------------------
       Alan C. Mendelson

<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT 23.1

                CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in 
the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of CV 
Therapeutics, Inc. for the registration of 1,472,147 shares of its common 
stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 
4, 1997, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of CV 
Therapeutics, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year 
ended December 31, 1996, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                  /s/Ernst & Young, LLP


Palo Alto, California
November 24, 1997


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